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Vasoactive intestinal peptide prevents experimental arthritis by downregulating both autoimmune and inflammatory components of the disease

Nature Medicine volume 7, pages 563–568 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints and subsequent destruction of the cartilage and bone. We describe here a new strategy for the treatment of arthritis: administration of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Treatment with VIP significantly reduced incidence and severity of arthritis in an experimental model, completely abrogating joint swelling and destruction of cartilage and bone. The therapeutic effect of VIP was associated with downregulation of both inflammatory and autoimmune components of the disease. Our data indicate VIP as a viable candidate for the development of treatments for RA.

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Figure 1: VIP decreases CIA incidence and severity.
Figure 2: VIP modulates Th1/Th2 balance in CIA.
Figure 3: VIP decreases T helper/suppressor ratio in ongoing CIA.
Figure 4: VIP inhibits inflammatory response in CIA.
Figure 5: VIP inhibits MMP-2 expression and activity in CIA.

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Acknowledgements

We thank P. Robberecht for the VPAC1 agonist and antagonist; D. Bolin and A. Welton for the VPAC2 agonist Ro 25-1553; and E. Lerner for the PAC1 agonist maxadilan. This work was supported by grant PM98-0081, and by the postdoctoral fellowships from the Spanish Department of Education and Science (M.D.) and the Autonomic Community of Madrid (C.M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain

    Mario Delgado, Catalina Abad, Carmen Martinez, Javier Leceta & Rosa P. Gomariz

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  1. Mario Delgado
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  2. Catalina Abad
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Correspondence to Mario Delgado.

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Delgado, M., Abad, C., Martinez, C. et al. Vasoactive intestinal peptide prevents experimental arthritis by downregulating both autoimmune and inflammatory components of the disease. Nat Med 7, 563–568 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/87887

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